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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesCytopathology Screening ProceduresCPT cpt-88142-thin-layer-cytology-manual-screening
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    CPT 88142: Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology, Automated Prep with Manual Screening

    CPT code 88142 describes a laboratory service in which a lab analyst performs the technical portion of cervical or vaginal cytopathology testing on a specimen collected in preservative fluid using an automated thin-layer preparation followed by manual screening under physician supervision; service type: cytopathology specimen processing and screening; typical site of service: hospital laboratory, independent clinical laboratory, or pathology lab associated with an outpatient clinic.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: General Inflammation Testing, Urine Culture Testing for Bacteria, Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 32-year-old woman presents to her primary care clinician or gynecology clinic for routine cervical cancer screening or evaluation of abnormal vaginal bleeding. The clinician collects a cervical or vaginal specimen using a liquid preservative medium (liquid-based cytology) during a pelvic exam. The specimen is sent to the clinical laboratory where a cytology technologist processes the sample using an automated thin-layer preparation system. The lab analyst performs the technical component of the cytology test, prepares the thin-layer slide, and conducts manual screening under the supervision of a licensed pathologist or cytopathologist who performs the professional component and signs out the result. Typical workflow steps include specimen accessioning, automated slide preparation, manual microscopic screening, documentation of findings according to a reporting system (for example, the Bethesda System), and transmission of results to the ordering clinician. Typical sites of service are outpatient physician offices, gynecology clinics, community health centers, and independent or hospital-based clinical laboratories. Typical clinical indications include routine screening (Z01.411, Z01.419) , follow-up of prior abnormal cytology, evaluation of vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain, and post-treatment surveillance for cervical dysplasia.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88141Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (eg, Pap smear), requiring interpretation by physician; limited (eg, when manual review is limited or targeted)May be reported when a limited physician review/interpretation is performed instead of full review; used in specific limited screening circumstances.
    88175Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal, automated thin layer preparation, review by physician (professional component)Represents the physician professional component for automated thin-layer cytology preparations when billed separately.
    88164Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal; mediation of computer-assisted screening, manual rescreening as indicatedReported when computer-assisted screening is used and manual rescreening follows; may be used in lab workflows incorporating automated screening adjuncts.
    88170Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal, screening slides by automated screening device with manual review as indicatedUsed when automated screening devices perform primary screening and manual review is performed for flagged slides.
    87164Culture, yeast, for example, vagina or other site; any techniqueMay be ordered concurrently when vaginal symptoms suggest possible infection in addition to cytology.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    208D00000X
    207LP3000X
    2086X0206X
    106H00000X
    177F00000X
    282NR1301X
    261QR1100X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Laboratory/Pathology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    General Inflammation TestingOscar Health2027-01-01
    Urine Culture Testing for BacteriaOscar Health2027-01-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2027-01-01
    Policy Regarding Outpatient Definitive Drug TestingMolina Healthcare2027-01-01
    Serum Testing for Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryHealthfirst2026-11-01
    Respiratory Viral PanelsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Serum Iron StudiesProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Prothrombin Time (PT)Providence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)Providence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Respiratory Viral PanelsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-88141-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 88141: Cervical or Vaginal Cytopathology Interpretation

    CPT-88143-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-MANUAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88143: Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology, Automated Prep with Manual Screening

    CPT-88147-AUTOMATED-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SCREENING

    CPT 88147: Automated Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screening, Technical

    CPT-88148-CYTOPATHOLOGY-AUTOMATED-SCREEN-MANUAL-RESCREEN

    CPT 88148: Automated Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screen with Manual Rescreening

    CPT-88150-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SLIDE-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88150: Manual Cervical or Vaginal Cytopathology Technical Analysis

    CPT-88152-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-COMPUTER-ASSISTED-RESCREEN

    CPT 88152: Cervical/Vaginal Cytopathology Manual Technical with Computer-Assisted Rescreening

    CPT-88153-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-MANUAL-RESCREENING

    CPT 88153: Manual Rescreen of Cervical or Vaginal Cytology Slide

    CPT-88155-CERVICOVAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-HORMONE-EVALUATION

    CPT 88155: Cervicovaginal Cytopathology Hormone Evaluation

    CPT-88160-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-TECHNICAL-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88160: Cytopathology Smear Screening and Interpretation

    CPT-88161-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-TECHNICAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88161: Cytopathology Smear Screening and Technical Analysis

    Showing 1–10 of 15

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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